This past Wednesday, July 11^th at the River Road Fire Hall on Kaufman Ave. 20 residents gathered to take kick off our Tonawanda PhotoVoice Project.

PhotoVoice is a way to document community strengths and challenges and initiate change. Armed with cameras, residents will head into their community to capture challenges to community health. The results of these pictures will be showcased in an exhibit in the fall, and used in meetings with political leaders to change policy to positively affect our health.

As part of the first session, members created their own maps of their neighborhoods. The maps illustrated the great things about each community, including parks and the waterfront. Issues such as industrial facilities, pollution caused by trucks, and non-walkable neighborhoods were also highlighted in the maps.

PhotoVoice is one of the many activities sponsored by the EPA’s CARE Program, a broad based partnership to reduce toxins in Tonawanda.

We believe that the knowledge we have about our own neighborhoods is the key to create a healthy environment for healthy people.  We are excited to see what types of pictures come back. Stay tuned for the exhibit in September!

A few months ago The Board of Directors of the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York voted to join the fight against the Sheridan Park Crematory, run by the Amigone Family.

The Coalition decided to back the residents because of the nuisance the facility is causing to the neighborhood. Since the crematory opened, residents have complained of dark heavy smoke and nauseating odors. “Just last week I had to cover my face with a sheet in bed. The small made me sick and I couldn’t fall back asleep,” said a Werkley Ave. resident. Residents speak of not being able to use their yards because the smell of human cremations is so strong.

The EPA has stated that: “the incineration of bodies, body parts, infections and chemotherapeutic wastes collectively represent the second largest know source of dioxin and mercury pollution in the US”.  In addition to dioxin and mercury, crematory emissions may include hydrochloric acid, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide.

The World Health Organization has determined that mercury is toxic to the central and peripheral nervous system, and that the inhalation of mercury vapor can produce harmful effects on the digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal.

At the request of residents, the Coalition sent a letter to the Amigone Family in May asking to stop all cremations at the facility by June 18th until the facility is moved. The Amigone’s have denied this request. Clean Air members are now calling on Attorney General to file a public nuisance suit and shut down the crematory.

Do you live by the Amigone Crematory (2600 Sheridan Dr. in Tonawanda) and want to get involved? Call our office at 852-3813.

The Clean Air Coalition is building a grassroots base of residents concerned diesel exhaust from the Peace Bridge Plaza and forcing the powers that be to make change on the lower west side.

Next week, we will educate youth and parents from the neighborhood about their exposure to toxic diesel exhaust. In partnership with Public School 3, we are hosting a Field Day where students will do their own air testing, eat healthy foods and compete in fun activities!

Throughout the day, students learn from local scientists about air pollution and measure their exposure to diesel exhaust. We will engage over 500 students and take dozens of air samples. In order to make change, we need good data! The results of the testing will be used by the Coalition members to advocate for change in their neighborhood.

We need enthusiastic volunteers to make the day a success! Volunteers will be needed for two (2) shifts: Shift A is from 8:00am- 12:00pm. Shift A is responsible for set-up and an activity station. Shift B is from 11:00am- 3:00pm. Shift B is responsible for clean-up and an activity station.

Students will get to participate in traditional field day activities like dodgeball, as well as field science tutorials, like bucket testing, and selected students will get to wear a badge that will take an air sample throughout the day.

Interested volunteers should send an email to Natasha at Natasha@cacwny.org or call 852-3813 with their:

1. Name,
2. Phone number,
3. Address,
4. What shift they would like
5. Any special skills pertaining to the activities above

The Clean Air Coalition was established by Tonawanda residents in response to concerns about the connections between pollution and the high levels of chronic illness in their community. PhotoVoice brings the connections between what we live around day after day and our health.

Armed with camera, residents will head into their community to capture challenges to community health. The results of these pictures will be showcased in an exhibit in the fall, and used to show political leaders the environmental health concerns of Tonawanda residents.

PhotoVoice is open to all Tonawanda residents. There is space in the program. You can apply by downloading an application form.

Common Questions:

What are the requirements of PhotoVoice?

You must attend 3 sessions,

• Wednesday, July 11th
• Wednesday, July 25th
• Wednesday, August 8th

And attend the PhotoVoice Exhibit on September 7th. All sessions will be held in the early evening, to accommodate working people.

Does it Cost Anything?

No. PhotoVoice has no fee.

Do I have to own a camera?

No. We will lend cameras to any person who is accepted into the program and provide training on how to use them.

How do I apply?

Download this form, and send it to the Clean Air Coalition of WNY, 341 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, NY 14202. You can also email forms to Rebecca@cacwny.org. Applications are due by June 25th.

Governor Cuomo, we are disappointed. Very disappointed.

We are disappointed that after repeated requests to prioritize the health of residents on Buffalo’s West Side, we have been ignored.

On May 23rd over 100 people marched at the foot of the Peace Bridge to call on our Governor  to install an air monitor at the base of the bridge and truck plaza.

We were grateful to be joined by Councilmen David Rivera and Mike Locurto.

The Rev. Alberto Lanzot of Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida said, “This is about justice, about equality, about doing the right thing.”

The press echoed our voices! See our coverage below:

Buffalo News
Channel 4
YNN

Or visit our YouTube channel with more footage of the action.

Want to join our fight? Sign the petition now!

Attention Residents of Tonawanda, We NEED Your Insight!

Tonawanda’s industrial zone has the highest concentration of air-regulated facilities in the state. Within a two mile area, the town had 53 facilities. Two major interstate highways intersect int he community and one holds a tollbooth were congestion is common. The town has 17 hazardous wastes sites, including 3 landfills. A 1992 study from the New York State Department of Health found that Tonawanda has elevated rates of breast, thyroid, bladder and brain cancer. Tonawanda has many environmental challenges and we want to hear your thoughts and concerns.

As part of our CARE Program, we will be holding listening sessions throughout the Town and City of Tonawanda. These sessions will gather feedback from residents about what environmental and health problems are the worst, and what changes you would like to see in your community. Your feedback is valuable, please join us on the following dates:

Thursday, May 17th 6PM at the Brighton Place Library (999 Brighton Rd.)

Thursday, May 24th 6:30PM at the Sheridan Parkside Community Center

More dates to come! Stay Tuned!

For the last two years the City of Buffalo has been preparing a new zoning ordinance. This new ordinance includes laws that  govern where certain types of industry is allowed to be placed. Come learn how the Government decides where to place industry and dirty diesel bus lots.

On Tuesday, May 22nd we will host a training that will teach you:

• what zoning is,
• what zone you live in
• what is allowed to be in the community where you live
• and how to change it

We need to send a strong message to the City of Buffalo that they can’t continue to put companies that make us sick into our neighborhoods!

Tuesday, May 22nd 6pm at the Niagara Branch Library at 280 Porter Avenue Buffalo

On Tuesday, April 10^th The Clean Air Coalition, Buffalo First and the Ken-Ton Chamber of Commerce have come together to host the Triple Bottom Line Business Mixer. The event is part of the Tonawanda CARE Collaborative.

“Triple bottom line” was first coined in 1994 by author and entrepreneur John Elkington. Elkington’s argument was that companies should be preparing three different bottom lines. The triple bottom line consists of three “Ps”: profit, people and planet and aims to measure the financial, social and environmental performance of the corporation over a period of time.

“Triple bottom line businesses are the cornerstone of healthy communities, self-determined economies and a sustainable future. Such environmentally and socially conscious businesses, especially the newly effective NYS Benefit Corporation, are the driving force behind social entrepreneurship, innovation, job creation, and are the firm foundation upon which the New Economy is being built.” Sarah Bishop, Executive Director, Buffalo First.

Presenters on the 10^th include: Heather Van Dusen from B-Lab, and Bob Gilmour from John W. Danforth Company. B-Lab is the Philadelphia-based organization that works with progressive leaders in business to solve social and environmental problems. B-Lab has been featured in the New York Times as “inspiring leaders creating a new sector of the economy that redefines success in business.

Located in Tonawanda NY,  has grown over the last 125 years to be one of the largest mechanical contractors in the United States. John W. Danforth Company’s environmental mission is to provide environmental improvements that promote a sustainable future and lead to social and economical advancements in our community.

The event will highlight ways to increase your bottom line and help improve your environment and review the recent passage of Benefit Corporation Legislation. Companies classified as a Benefit Corporations would be required to pursue a general public benefit, defined as a positive material impact on society and the environment as assessed against a third party standard.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 10^th 6:30PM

WHERE: John W. Danforth Company, 300 Colvin Woods Parkway Tonawanda NY 14150

RSVP to Andrew Delmonte: Andrew@buffalofirst.org; 716.725.6100.

Come celebrate Earth Day with us on Thursday, April 19th at 7PM at the Brighton Place Library (999 Brighton Road, Tonawanda NY 14150) with our screening of You Are Where You Live.

Some challenges are too difficult to face alone. The film You Are Where You Live by Vince Mistretta chronicles the story of The Clean Air Coalition’s fight for a right to a healthy environment in Tonawanda and the City of Buffalo by following Coalition members Ann Sciandra, Rosa Caraballo and Renata Pokrasky.

Vincenzo Mistretta is a filmmaker and visual artist who works in experimental film, documentary, installation and painting.  He has won numerous awards and grants in the United States and Italy and received a Fulbright Fellowship in 2006.

This documentary is a part of Squeaky Wheel’s Channels Series.

Last week, the Commissioner of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation announced that the two air monitors in Tonawanda will continue to operate until the end of 2013. This announcement comes after weeks of hard work by the Coalition’s dedicated membership.

Commissioner Joe Martens

The two air monitors in Tonawanda were installed after Clean Air Coalition members did their own air monitoring and found high levels of benzene in the air. Since then, the air monitors found elevated levels of 6 hazardous air pollutants and identified Tonawanda Coke as the predominant source of benzene in the town. The data was used by NYS DEC and US EPA to guide their enforcement action at the company that has resulted in benzene reductions of 86%!

But our members know that our air pollution challenges are not over. Air monitoring is a critical piece of solving the problem. Air monitors help verify that companies are honest about their reporting to DEC, captures when there are “accidental” releases at facilities and allows us to track our progress over time.

The air monitors in Tonawanda were put there because of organized people and they will stay there because our membership is talented, committed to learning more, and growing. How did we make this win happen?

• Tonawanda residents led. People know what they need in their neighborhood. Our staff held trainings for Tonawanda residents to learn how to communicate effectively with policymakers. Then we shut up and let our members tell their stories and demand the air monitors stay in place.
• We demonstrated public support for the air monitors. Our members collected over 250 postcards from their neighbors and generated nearly 500 signatures on an online petition.
• We demonstrated public support from policymakers. Our membership met with the offices of elected to request they reach out to Commissioner Martens. As of today, 6 policy makers have sent letters to the Commissioner.
• We let policymakers take credit for their work. Many policymakers issued press releases announcing their support for the air monitors. Combined with interviews from Coalition staff and members, this generated over 15 media hits.

When our members make noise, people in power listen!

Our fight isn’t over. We still need Commissioner Martens to commit to placing an air monitor on Buffalo West Side, a known toxic hot spot due to the high volume of diesel trucks. If you haven’t already, sign the petition and stay tuned for more opportunities to make your voice heard!